Thomas McGovern received a fair education in the common schools of this county, and, being reared at home, he obtained a thorough and practical training for the work of life. He remained with his parents until their death assuming the heavier cares of the cultivation of the farm when his father's advancing years made active work impossible. Upon the death of the latter he bought the interests of the other heirs and has continued to make his boyhood's home the scene of his mature labors. He has added to the original tract, however, as success has crowned his efforts, and now owns five hundred and seventy-seven acres of good, arable land in Richland township. In connection with general farming Mr. McGovern has made a specialty of feeding stock for the market, finding that a most profitable adjunct to his other interests. The success which he now enjoys has not been a thing of chance but the well deserved reward for years of conscientious toil, bringing with it a satisfaction that comes from the work of one's own hands and not through the misfortune of another.

In 1891 Mr. McGovern was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Dolphin. She was born in this county in 1857 and is a daughter of James and Mary (Gogen) Dolphin, the latter a resident of Cascade, Iowa, and seventy-six years of age. Mr. Dolphin, however, has passed away. Three children were born to Mr. McGovern and his wife: Mazie, Valinda and George. Mrs. McGovern died January 12, 1909, in the faith of the Catholic church, in which she has been reared and of which she was a devout member during her lifetime.

Mr. McGovern is also a member of that church, while politically he is in sympathy with the principles of the democratic party. For a period of sixteen years he was clerk of his township, and later, since he has taken an increased interest in the educational opportunities here, he has been secretary of the school board.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 208.

William McGovern attended the common schools of this county, from which he derived a fair education in the rudimentary branches of English instruction. Home training supplemented whatever were the shortcomings of his formal schooling and through practical experience in the tilling of the soil, in which he assisted from his early boyhood, prepared him for the vocation to which he has given his attention. Until he was thirty-three years of age he remained with his parents and then, starting out in life for himself. bought the farm on which he is living today. It is a tract of two hundred and eighty acres, which is maintained under a high state of cultivation, besides being improved with substantial and commodious buildings of an excellent kind. In connection with his purely agricultural interests he conducts a dairy, which has proved a profitable undertaking financially, for the same care and diligence which has characterized his work as a farmer is noticeable here. A certain skill is of course necessary in obtaining the best results from the soil, but it is a skill that comes from experience born of industry and a determination to succeed, rather than from any esoteric maneuvers in a world foreign to his vocation, that has brought Mr. McGovern the good fortune he now enjoys.

In 1891 was celebrated the wedding of Mr. McGovern and Miss Nellie Hogan, who was born in Castle Grove township, Jones county, and is a daughter of D. M. and Catherine Hogan. The former is now deceased, but the latter is living in Castle Grove township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McGovern: William L. G., who is at home; Mary J., who is attending the high school at Anamosa; Dennis M. and Agnes C., who are at home.

The parents are both members of the Catholic church and are rearing their family in that faith. In his political views Mr. McGovern finds himself in sympathy with the democratic party and invariably casts his vote for its candidate. For himself, however, he has never sought office, although he has served very efficiently as a school director, a position he is still holding.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 224.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 648.

The many readers of the Advocate will read with profound sorrow the news that J.B. McGrew, a former townsman of this place (Bloomington, NE), died at his home in Holdrege last Sunday morning after one of the hardest fights against the inevitable call.

The deceased was born in Ohio November 11, 1850, making his age at the demise 64 years, 3 months and 3 days.

He moved with his parents, who were Quakers, to Mound City, Kansas, before the civil war and a few years after the war they moved to Wyoming, Iowa. He received his education at Lenox College, Hopkinton, Ia. and was married to Helen Skinner. In 1880 they moved to Spencer, Iowa, where he was engaged in the drug business.He was a railroad conductor for a short time afterward. In 1888 they moved to Bloomington where he ran the Bloomington State Bank until he sold out to the present owner. For the past two years he has resided in Holdrege though much of his time he put in travelling in the hopes of benefitting his health.

Mr. McGrew was interested as president in a chain of banks including Woodruff, Republican City, Naponee, Riverton and Bostwick.

He was honored by this district by an election as state senator, where he served his state with credit.

At the time of his demise he was a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellow and Modern Woodman lodges of this city.

It was the good fortune of the writer to have been closely associated in business and social relation with Mr. McGrew ever since he first came to this place, and we, as well as the people of this place, always knew him as an upright man, always lending his influence for the upbuilding of the community and for the betterment of the people in a social way. No matter what may have been the condition, or whether the man was a friend of not we believe no man who wanted to do right ever appealed to the deceased for help but what he received it. He was positive of mind but he was never known to do any of his countrymen an injury.

Mr McGrew always maintained a warm spot in his heart for his old home here in Bloomington and the people here, and he always maintained that this seemed more like home to him.

He was a kind and loving husband and an indulgent father. About three months ago he began to fail and eveything possible to bring relief were tried and the last resort was an operation by the famous surgeon at Rochester, Minnesota. For the time it was thought he had been benefitted but his system was so exhausted that he could not build up and on Friday he had two sinking spells after which he said that the good fight was done and that he was prepared to go. He was conscious up until within an hour of the end when he passed peacefully away.

Here two accounts differ considerably. One states that the remains were laid to rest in the Holdrege cemetary and the other, an obituary of his son, states that the remains were located in an Omaha cemetary. No grave has been found in Holdrege or Bloomington, so the latter is more likely correct.

Many newspaper accounts over the period of the McGrews' stay in Bloomington speak of the wonderful house they occupied which served as a social center for the town, and of the somewhat luxurious life led by the McGrews.The house still stands in Bloomington, NE at the corner of 7th and Chestnut, but the stable, summer kitchen, and servants quarters are no longer there.

Still, it is obviously the grandest house in town. At the time of the McGrews life in Bloomington it was the county seat, had the land office and the terminus of the railroad. Later all of that changed. The railroad moved on and the land office with it. The county seat was moved 6 miles to Franklin. Bloomington lost most of its business and much of its population. Today (2001) it is nearly a ghost town.

Bio and photos submitted by Palmer McGrew